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Abstract:

Gas burner assemblies include a cooking gas hob and a grate for supporting
cooking utensils. The grate includes a plate which integrates a
protection for preventing the flame of a burner from being extinguished
from a wind blow when operating around the minimum level. Simmering
performance of such burner assembly is enhanced.

Claims:

1. A gas burner assembly comprising:a cooking gas hob having a gas burner
which feeds combustible gas to a flame;a grate positioned above the gas
burner; anda plate secured to the grate and presenting a surface above
the burner,wherein the plate is displaced a predetermined distance from
the gas burner so as to retain the flame of the gas burner below the
grate when the burner is operated near the minimum level

2. The gas burner assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plate is
integral with the grate.

3. The gas burner assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plate is flat
and parallel with a worktop in which the hob is installed.

4. The gas burner assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plate and the
grate are formed by a metal casting process.

5. The method for preventing the extinguishing of a gas burner flame from
accidental air blows in a cooking gas hob according to claim 1, wherein
the method comprises the step of setting the burner to operate to a
predetermined minimum power level retaining the flame underneath the
plate.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001]1. Field of the Invention

[0002]Gas burner assemblies include gas hobs and grates are associated
with a gas built-in cook top or a gas cook top integrated within a
cooking range. For the purpose of the present invention we extend this
definition by including all the cooking gas hobs provides with at least
one burner fed with any type of combustible gas.

[0003]2. Description of the Related Art

[0004]Burner assemblies include gas hobs having gas burners with grates
placed above the gas burners. Grates normally present "fingers" for
supporting pots, pans, casseroles or any other cooking utensil that has
to be heated by the gas hob.

[0005]"Fingers" are required to position, in a centered and stable way,
cooking utensils above the gas burners.

[0006]Generally, gas hob appliances are designed to prevent the flame from
being extinguished by a wind blow caused for instance by a slammed door,
especially with regard to the low power burners. This design is
particularly important for the countries in which it the door slam test
is a safety requirement to be passed for obtain the approval of the
product.

[0007]Whenever it is desired to pass such a test the product may be
modified to increase the minimum power level of the target burner to
prevent extinguishing the flame. This change has decreases the
performance of the product when using the same burner at the minimum
level. This effect is particularly undesirable when the burner is used
for simmering, especially when needed to supply good melting and good
sauce results. In fact, a burner with increased power is not good enough
for this purpose.

[0008]Moreover, it is known in the art that after having increased the
power, to avoid extinguishing the flame hob temperatures may increase.
This may require a change the ornamental design of grates. This change
normally has an impact on metal top design, and on other components
including the "fingers". As a consequence the overall grate ornamental
design is changed, and this change can compromise the overall stability
of the cooking utensils and jeopardize the overall aesthetic design.

[0009]Good results on performance tests, like simmering Tomato Sauce and
Melting Chocolate and a nice appearance based on a design which provides
stability the cooking utensils, are very important for the brand to build
a good image on the market, and are very important to transmit a good
impression to the customer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010]An aspect of the present invention is therefore to provide a burner
assembly that does not present the limitations of the prior art.

[0011]More specifically, a further aspect of the present invention is a
cooking gas hob provided with a grate presenting some characteristics
capable to solve the problem of the flame extinguishing due to wind blows
and which also doesn't need to change the disposition of the fingers,
compromising the stability of the cooking utensils supported by the
grates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]Other features and advantages of the present invention will become
readily apparent to the skilled artisan from the following detailed
description when read in light of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013]FIG. 1 shows a cooking gas hob provided with a grid according to the
present invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of a preferred embodiment of grid
according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015]With reference to the drawings a gas hob 100 presents five burners
having different sizes, adapted for being coupled with different pans and
for supply different powers. In particular the gas hob presents an
auxiliary burner A having a small size, i.e. rated 1.5 kW and rapid
burner R rated, for instance, 4.4 kW. Three grates G are positioned above
the burners, each of them presenting "fingers" F to support cooking
utensils (cookware) of different sizes.

[0016]According to the present invention, the grate G above the auxiliary
burner A, which is the burner that first extinguishes it flame when set
at its lower (minimum) power level during the door slam test, present a
flat surface metal area M, a plate, which avoids the flame be directly in
contact with the pan at low power level, and which prevent an excessive
warming when the customer is using the burner of the product on the
simmer function.

[0017]The same configuration is applicable also to the grates over
standing the rapid burner R or any other burner which can also affected
by the same problem. This flat surface metal area M is integrated with
the grids and obtained by a metal casting process.

[0018]With a grid G according to the present invention it is possible to
improve the simmer function of the product and to prevent the flame
extinguishing in case of a wind blow. The results are particularly
appreciable when the burner is operated at its minimum level, whenever
the flame of the burner is retained underneath the flat surface metal
area M.

[0019]The presence of the flat surface metal area/s prevent to a
modification of the "fingers" F and so of the stability of the cooking
utensils used with the hob. As a further consequence the overall original
nice appearance of the product is maintained together with the product
performances.